Proud Flitcroft set for quiet time

5 May 2013

Barnsley manager David Flitcroft said he would celebrate the last-day draw at Huddersfield that secured his side npower Championship survival by visiting his dad's grave in Bolton.

James Vaughan's 82nd-minute equaliser appeared to have consigned Barnsley to League One, but Crystal Palace's 89th-minute winner against relegation rivals Peterborough meant both Yorkshire sides stayed up. Huddersfield twice hit back from behind to clinch a 2-2 draw and the point they needed to guarantee Championship football next season.

Once news of Palace's late winner had filtered through, it triggered bizarre scenes, where both sets of players appeared to agree to play out the final few minutes without further incident to ensure both sides avoided the drop. When asked how he would celebrate, Flitcroft said: "I'm not sure. I don't know where I'm at."

He continued: "I'll go up to my dad's grave and probably spend an hour up there with dad.

"After the greatest achievements I've done in my life, I've spent them at a grave in Bolton.

"There's a lot of emotions.

"I just wish dad could have been here to witness that."

Huddersfield manager Mark Robins admitted the 90 minutes had been the toughest of his managerial career and that his short time at the club had been the most testing.

"It was the hardest 90 minutes that I've ever had to endure without a doubt," said former Barnsley boss Robins, who replaced predecessor Simon Grayson in February.